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Flying Belocian rewrites the record books

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French sprint hurdler Wilhem Belocian rubber-stamped his brilliant credentials with a world record performance to win gold at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Eugene by becoming the first youngster to smash 13 seconds.

His victory came on another memorable day for Europe - and Russia, in particular, as the nation celebrated success in the pole vault with Alena Lutkovskaya and a dramatic triumph for Yekaterina Starygina in the javelin, while Konrad Bukowiecki brought glory for Poland in the shot put.

Belocian, 19, who won bronze at the last World Junior Championships in Barcelona in 2012, ran his way into the record books with a stunning burst of speed in a superb 110m hurdles (99.0cm) final.

He was the quickest in the field with a personal best of 13.15 but he took himself and the event to a different level as he won in 12.99.

No athlete at this level had ever got close to breaking 13 seconds, with Belocian smashing the world record time of 13.08 which American Wayne Davis had set five years ago.

It was some performance as he broke first from his blocks in lane four and was never going to be beaten with Jamaica’s Tyler Mason in second in 13.06 and Great Britain’s David Omoregie in third in 13.35.

Once more France has another sprint hurdler to be proud of and it could be the start of a sensational championship double for them as Pascal Martinot-Lagarde is favourite for the 110m crown at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich next month.

A year ago Belocian won gold at the European Athletics Junior Championships in Rieti and now has another title to his name which left him delighted.

Speaking after the race to the IAAF, he said: “Being the first junior to run under 13 seconds, this is incredible, I still can’t believe it. The success of Pascal inspires and motivates me a lot.”

If Belocian’s win was about an amazing burst of speed, Russian Starygina, 18, showed nerves of steel to win an amazing javelin gold.

She had looked on her to way to victory after taking control of the competition with a second-round throw of 55.98m but then in the last round it all changed.

Sweden’s Sofi Flink was the pre-event favourite and with her final effort she moved into the gold medal position with 56.70m, beating her previous best of the day of 55.29m. But Starygina was not finished yet, taking to the runway to launch the spear 56.85m to take the title.

“In my last attempt, I just gave it my all,” said Starygina in a competition which brought bronze for Europe, too, as Croatian Sara Kolak was third with 55.74m, also achieved in this fabulous final round.

Russian gold in the women’s pole vault with Lutkovskaya, 18, came in a championship record of 4.50m.

It really was an exceptional performance from Lutkovskaya, who did not enter the competition until 4.20m, then had one foul at 4.35m before clearing it the second time and was over at her first attempt at 4.45m.

After fouling at 4.50m, she cleared it second time around before one failure at 4.57m.

Lutkovskaya won by five centimetres from American Desiree Freier with Eliza McCartney, of New Zealand, third on countback, also with 4.45m.

“I am so happy. It is my biggest competition and my biggest win so far,” said Lutkovskaya to the IAAF.

Poland’s Bukowiecki, 17, led a European one-two in the shot put, securing gold with his second round effort of 22.06m from Denzel Comenentia, of the Netherlands, in a personal best of 20.17m, with Braheme Days, of the USA, third with 20.01m.

From the first round Bukowiecki had set the target for the rest with 21.17m and after his 22.06m, he then produced a 22.01m before three fouls.

But gold was his and he said: “It is an amazing feeling to be a world champion.”

There was disappointment, though, for Iceland’s Anita Hinriksdottir in the 800m. She stormed through the opening lap of the final in 56.33 but then dropped out in the final 100m as Kenya’s Margaret Nyairera Wambui won in 2:00.49.

France’s Rouguy Diallo had much to be happy about after finishing top in qualifying for the women’s triple jump as her best effort of 13.77m was a national junior record.




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